MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The man accused of spraying an unknown substance at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis City Hall has a criminal record and made online posts in support of President Donald Trump.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989 and had been arrested multiple times for drunken driving and received multiple traffic tickets, Minnesota court records show. There were also signs that he had serious financial problems, including filing for bankruptcy twice.
Police said Kazmierchak used a syringe to spray liquid on Omar at Tuesday’s event, which came after Omar called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the firing or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the wake of the shooting deaths of Renee Goode and Alex Pretty. Police immediately arrested Kazmierczak, who was jailed on a preliminary charge of third-degree assault, police spokesman Trevor Folke said.
The man dropped the syringe when he was caught, and photos show what appears to be a light brown liquid inside. Authorities have not publicly identified the substance.
According to an Associated Press reporter who was present at the time, a strong smell of vinegar filled the room after the attack. Forensic scientists were called, but none of the approximately 100 people present had an apparent physical reaction to the substance.
After Kazmirchak was led out, Omar continued speaking for about 25 minutes, saying she would not be intimidated. As she left, she said she felt a bit flustered but was not injured and would be checked out by the medical team.
She later posted on
trump supporters
As of Wednesday morning, Kazmierchak had not been formally charged and had not scheduled an initial court appearance. The Hennepin County Prosecutor’s Office has until Thursday to charge him but may seek an extension. A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office did not immediately return a call seeking further information.
It was unclear whether Kazmirchak had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Michael Berger, the county’s chief public defender, said the case has not yet been assigned to his office.
A neighbor told the New York Post that Kazmierchak said he was going to Omar’s city hall and “I might get arrested.”
Kazmierchak described himself in social media posts as a former network engineer who lives in Minneapolis. Among other things, he criticized Democratic former President Joe Biden and called Democrats “angry liars.”
Kazmierchak wrote that Trump, a Republican, “wants America to be stronger and more prosperous.” “Stop other countries from stealing from us. Bring back the fear that keeps our enemies away, and earn the respect that if anyone threatens ourselves or our friends, we will (expletive) them.”
Kazmierchak asked in another post: “When will the descendants of slaves be able to pay reparations to the families of the Union soldiers who freed them/sacrificed for them instead of sending them back to Africa?”
After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September, Kazmierczak briefly changed his profile photo on Facebook to an Associated Press photo of Trump embracing Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk.
often quarreled with the president
Omar is a progressive who has been a frequent target of Trump’s barbs since joining Congress in 2019.
That year, Trump urged Omar and three other freshman congresswomen of color, known as “The Squad,” to “go back” to their countries if they wanted to criticize the United States. Omar, the only one of four born outside the United States, immigrated to the United States as a child after her family fled violence in Somalia.
Trump has stepped up his criticism of Omar in recent months as he turns his attention to Minneapolis-St. The St. Paul area is home to approximately 84,000 people of Somali descent, accounting for almost one-third of the Somalis living in the United States. At a cabinet meeting in December, he called her “rubbish.” He also linked the Twin Cities immigration crackdown to a series of fraud cases involving government programs in which most of the defendants were from East African countries.
The White House did not respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday. But when asked about the attack on Tuesday night, Trump told ABC News that he had not seen the video and accused Omar of orchestrating the attack. “Knowing her, she probably got trolled herself,” Trump said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar while addressing a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only allow immigrants “who can show they love our country.”
“They have to be proud and not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.
He added: “She comes from a country that’s been riddled with disasters. So, I guess, that might be considered – it’s not even a country.”
Lawmakers face growing threats
Days earlier, a Utah man was arrested for allegedly punching Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida in the face at a bar during the Sundance Film Festival.
“We’re going to deport your kind,” Christian Joel Young, 28, said before attacking the congressman, according to a probable cause affidavit. Young also said similar things to a woman and pushed her, the affidavit said. He was charged in state court Tuesday with two counts of misdemeanor assault and felony burglary for illegally entering a bar.
The judge ordered him held without bail. Yang’s attorney declined to comment.
Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, then declining slightly but then climbing again, according to the latest data from the U.S. Capitol Police.
After Tuesday’s attack on Omar, U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that the agency “is working with our federal partners to ensure this man faces the most serious charges to deter this type of violence in our society.”
Councilors discussed the impact of the threatening political climate on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing it in their decisions not to seek reelection.
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Bizek reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter RJ Rico in Atlanta contributed.